YOUR SAY: Getting on the High Peak property ladder

Lucy Ball

Whether owning your own home is a dream or a reality, it seems most of you think that it is too hard for people to break on to the property market.

New research has shown that home ownership has hit a new low country-wide as people are living more in rented accommodation.

Connor Mulcahy

Connor Mulcahy, a 20-year-old student from Tideswell, is living with his parents.

He said: “I was living on my own for a while but had to work more than 35 hours a week just to make sure I could pay the bills.

“Now I’m at university here in Buxton I don’t have time to be working such long hours so I moved back home.

“I think when I have graduated I will stay at home just to get some savings behind me, but I think owning my own house is not on the horizon yet.”

Lynn Insley

Lynn Insley feels people trying to buy a home are at a massive disadvantage.

She said: “Not everyone can get the savings together to move out of their parents house and buy, but people want their independence so they move out and start renting and then they get stuck in a cycle they can’t break.

“I know there is the help to buy ISAs, but it’s not enough.

“Banks and lenders need to be working with first-time buyers to make it easier for them, not harder.”

Deborah Mclaughlin

The new Help to Buy: ISA pays first-time buyers a government bonus which will pay-in £50 for every £200 saved.

Deborah McLaughlin, 47, from Stockport, thinks there are more options now to help people get onto the housing ladder. She said: “The government ISA is putting money in people’s pockets to help with a deposit and now the interest rate has been lowered by the Bank of England, so let’s see how long it takes to impact on homeowners.”

The average house price in the High Peak is just under £200,000, which is still cheaper than other parts of the country.

Claire Hirons moved up from Bristol to the High Peak to start a family.

Joshua Burrows

The 38-year-old mum-of-two said: “My husband and I bought our first house in 2004 and were hit by the recession.

“We moved up here because prices are cheaper than in Bristol and we started renting. We are both full-time professionals so we managed to buy again, but it really is a struggle for people to get their own house.

“Some will be lucky to have their parents on hand to help with the deposit, but not everyone will and it is tough.”

Joshua Burrows feels he is in a difficult situation and can not imagine getting on to the housing market.

The 27-year-old said: “I still live my mum. I want to move out but can’t afford to. I’m single and don’t have a child so I feel that there is no help out there for people like me.

“If you do find somewhere that you think you can afford, it will either need all of the work doing on it which costs money, or there won’t be room to swing a cat.”

Claire Hirons

However Natasha Wood, 22, and mum-of-one, says she found it easy to get a house, even if it was a rented one.

“I moved out and found a house quickly and there were two incomes coming in which made running the house easier. Now there is only me I can still pay the bills,” she said.

“It can be done but I think buying will be difficult as I don’t have the money to save.”